Rori and Jackson: The Sons of Dusty Walker

By Randi Alexander

Jackson Walker is anxious about spending a whole week in Red Creek, Kansas, with his newly discovered brothers. Will they be able to work as a team at the company they inherited from their dad? Can they even be in the same room together without getting into a dust-up?

What he has no concerns about, however, is the woman he’s fallen crazy in love with: sexy, quirky computer engineer Rori Hughes. But that changes when her family comes to town with an offer she can’t refuse. Jackson is more confused than he’s ever been in his life, including the day when he’d been just fifteen and learned his father had a wife—who was not Jackson’s mother.

Rori has major decisions to make, and she can feel Jackson backing away from her as he finds too many commitments that keep him away from town and out of her arms. His frequent nightmares concern her, but even more disturbing is the strange woman in town who has been talking with Jackson and going out of her way to avoid Rori.

As fall turns into winter, will Jackson and Rori find a way around their suspicions and insecurities, or will they find that their flash-fire romance has burned itself out?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Randi Alexander
• Release date: Nov 18, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311332738

Randi Alexander

Randi Alexander writes romance novels in a fun variety of genres, like western, paranormal, menage, BDSM, motorcycle club, and even sweet. When she’s not writing a story or dreaming about her next book, Randi is biking trails along remote rivers or snorkeling the Gulf of Mexico. Forever an adventurous spirit with a romantic imagination, Randi is family-oriented and married to the best guy in the world. Give in to the allure of passion as Randi’s emotional love stories sweep you off your feet and leave you breathless. You’re guaranteed a story that’ll give you a happily ever after.

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Rori and Jackson

The Sons of Dusty Walker Series, Book 6

by

Randi Alexander

"RORI AND JACKSON

The Sons of Dusty Walker Series, Book 6"

Original Printing 2015

Revised Version Copyright © 2021 Randi Alexander

*~*~*~*

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to place of purchase and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by an information storage and retrieval system-except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a magazine, newspaper, or on the web -without permission in writing from the author.

Chapter One

Jackson Walker knew he was dreaming, but with his sweetheart, Rori Hughes, snuggled tightly in his arms, and the two of them cradled warm and cozy in her bed, he couldn’t wake himself.

"You’re just like your father. Rori stood in the middle of Main Street, Red Creek, Kansas, her fists on her hips. You can’t change DNA, Jackson. You’ll break my heart, and you’ll just rationalize it away with the fact that you’re Dusty Walker’s son."

Jackson reached over his head to attach his rodeo number on his back, turned away from Rori, and instantly found himself behind the wheel of his pickup, flooring the accelerator, squealing tires as he raced away from her.

He woke with a gasp and opened his eyes. Light from the streetlamps filtered in around the curtains, casting stripes on the ceiling.

Rori’s sweet patchouli scent drifted up his nostrils, but she didn’t move. Exhausted? They’d made love half the night in their hideaway apartment on the second floor of her computer store on Main Street, and she’d fallen deeply asleep just a few hours ago.

Easing his arm from under her, Jackson slid out of bed, pulled on his briefs, and padded out of the room and across the wood floor to the small kitchen. As he drew a glass of water from the tap, he stared out the window. Down the street a ways, the D. Walker Mineral building stood half in shadow as if hiding itself from him.

His dad. The man had been dead and buried for over a month, but his legacy lived on. Especially the part where he’d conceived four sons from four different women—none of them his wife—and had kept the four brothers from each other.

Now that all four of them had each spent a separate week in this boringly quiet little town, somehow they’d each decided to stay, at least most of the time. Some of them had kept interests back home that had to be dealt with. Stupid spawn of a deceitful asshole. Jackson shook his head, catching himself. No, he had forgiven his father, had sat down and spoken with his mother, who still loved ol’ dead-and-gone Dusty as if he were her main reason for breathing.

Drinking his water, he let it cool his anger. That dream, though. So real, it had to mean something. Jackson wandered into the living room and checked the time on one of Rori’s many gaming consoles. Nearly four in the morning. Was he subliminally picking up uncertainty from Rori? Hell, he could barely keep track of his own thought processes, much less sense anything from anyone else.

He sat on the arm of a heavy recliner and stared at the blank TV. The rodeo reference in the dream disturbed him. Rori had been okay with his travel schedule when he’d told her he wanted to hit a few hot rodeos this fall. How come, in his dream, it felt like he was abandoning her?

Hell, the whole concept confused him. This was the first time in his life he’d even considered settling down. How did he know if it was real love or if Rori just happened to come into his world when he needed someone? The thought of walking away from her, though, nearly broke him.

Hey, cowboy. Her sexy, low voice preceded the padding of her bare feet across the floor. Are you looking for a rematch? She stepped in front of him, and her functional blue cotton robe flapped open as she reached for the game controller, revealing her curvy, nude beauty.

Jackson set down his glass and pulled Rori onto his lap, dropping them both into the big chair. You know I’m a lover, not a paid assassin fighter.

Rori giggled, her shoulder-length black hair swinging wildly as she settled in, her blue eyes glowing. I appreciate that you tried it, though. For me.

Anything. Something choked the word in his throat a bit as he stared at his amazing woman. Anything for you, darlin’. His fingers found the tight, red bud at the tip of her breast that gave them both so damn much pleasure.

As she sighed, the memory of his dream assaulted him again. He had to get his shit together. Rori was the best thing that’d ever happened in his life, and he would make this work if it took every last ounce of his strength to do it.

****

The week the four brothers agreed to spend together in Red Creek had already begun to scrape heavily on Jackson’s nerves by noon the first day. They sat in the company’s small conference room with their attorney, Stanley Benner, Esquire, and jawed on about each little detail of the company. Everyone had his own idea of how to distribute Dusty Walker’s duties as owner and CEO, but none of the brothers was interested in the traveling portion. Not when they each had a honey living and loving right here in town.

Traveling had been their dad’s thing. Hopping from one family to the next around the four compass points of the US. Now, here the four of them were, settled down like they’d been born and raised in Red Creek, Kansas, and had never wanted to set foot outside it.

After some arguing that required mediation from the attorney, to make everything fair, they distributed the crucial trips between the four of them and handed off the others to the company’s very qualified employees.

A couple of days in, Jackson looked at the clock for the seventieth time. Only five past ten, and the lawyer had only gotten through a tenth of the files stacked in front of him. This might just kill Jackson, and his brothers, too. They’d been on edge, squabbling some, and were not feeling that brotherly love at all.

Dylan stared at a spot on the wall behind Jackson. His baby brother had to be experiencing the same exhaustion he was. Killian drew small squares on a paper in front of him as if he was feeling boxed in, and Rogue just stared down at his lap. Was the guy texting or—more likely—playing poker at some online site?

Jackson waited until Benner finished speaking and closed the folder he’d been reading from. When the man reached for another file, Jackson stood.

Four heads swiveled to look up at him, three of them nearly mirror images of Jackson, except for hair and eye color.

Mr. Benner, I think me and my brothers here have gotten enough information for the time being.

A slow grin spread across Dylan’s face.

Jackson hitched his thumbs in his front pockets. I’m feeling like it’s time we four had a sit-down to discuss everything before we try to take in any more.

Killian clicked his pen closed and set it down. For the first time all day, I think I agree with Jackson.

Across the table, Rogue glanced at each of his brothers, then stood. I’m in favor of a break.

But, gentlemen. The attorney set his pudgy hand on the stack of files he hadn’t gone over yet. We only have a week, and there’s at least—

All in favor? Dylan got to his feet.

Yo.

Aye.

Damned right, Rogue stepped to the door and pulled it open, gesturing for his siblings to precede him. Gentlemen. He said the word with more than a little sarcasm.

With Benner’s voice echoing a question about when they would